11 August, 2011

Goya painted several of queen Maria Luisa of Spain portraits. She was often described by contemporaries as an ugly (however, pretty in her youth), vicious, and coarse woman who thoroughly dominated the king. She had well-known rivalries with the Duchess of Alba, the Duchess of Osuna and her sister-in-law, Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples. Her beauty was damaged by her many childbirths - among other things, she lost her teeth at age 40 having them replaced with pearls- but she made many efforts to look pretty and dress elegantly; she had beautiful arms and she often wore short-sleeved dresses to expose them.